The Oldest Newspaper Published In North Carolina
The Carolina Watchman
"The Watchman Carries a Summary of ^All The T^ews”
Founded 1832--100th Year SALISBURY, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 22, 1932 Vol. 27, No. 30 Price 2 Cent*
Nominees Favor Vote On Dry Law Repeal
COUNEL "SALARIES
Weddings Decline, Divorces Climb, In County
DEM. DELEGATION
EXPRESS VIEWS ON
WET-DRY ISSUE
Local Delegation Favors
Submitting Question To
A Vote Of The People.
STAND UPON THE
PARTY PLATFORM
ON PROHIBITION
State Law Not Involved;
Dry Law Slated To Be
Leading Issue In 1932
National Political Cam
paign.
Kowan county s delegation to tne
next General Assembly, granting the
democratic slate wins, favor the sub
mission of the prohibition question to
a vote of the people, in accordance
with the national Democratic plat
form, in a special election called to
settle the issue.
This fact was revealed in a survey
made by a Watchman reporter.
The Turlington act, the state dry
law, is not involved in the present po
litical prohibition issue, and the nom
inees were not questioned as to their
attitude on this statute.
All three nominees opposed the re
turn of the saloons, as does the Dem
ocratic platform.
All favored temperance and the
proper control and regulation of li
quor.
The statements of the Rowan coun
ty general assembly nominees follow:
Senator Hayden Clement:
"I favor a submission of the ques
tion to the people, and advocate the
declarations of the Democratic Par
ty’s Platform which outlaws saloons
and prohibits importation of liquor in
the states that desire to remain dry.
The platform makes it mandatory on
Congress to enable the people of the
various states to exercise their suffrage
in relieving themselves of any restric
tive legislation hedged about their per- ]
sonal liberties by statutory law.”
Representative Walter Murphy:
"I stand upon the Democratic plat
form. The Democratic platform fa
vors the repeal of the 18 th amend
ment.”
Representative J. W. Bean:
"I favor a submission of the prohi
bition question to a vote of the peo
ple. I am personally and politically
dry, but think the people should al
ways have the right to rule them
selves.”
PUBLIC UTILITIES
CALLED TO CONFER
ON RATE CUT
Public utilities companies operating
on North Carolina were ordered to
have tepresentatives confer with the
state corporation commission "with a
view to effecting such immediate re
ductions in rates as may be legitimate
ly possible under present conditions.
The commission’s order stipulates
that "all electric, gas, and telephone
utilities operating properties” are in
cluded. There are 53 electric com
panies, 10 gas companies and 109 tel
ephone companies; but only 13 electric
companies, 10 gas companies and 12
telephone companies jre listed as ma
jor utility operations.
Dates for the conferences have not
been set.
WRECKED PLANE FOUND
St. Johns, N. F.—Wreckage of a
plane picked up near Cape Norman,
northernmost part of Newfoundland,
was identified as part of the plane in
which a pleasure flight was started by
Arthur Sullivan and Dr. Karl Kuen
hert on Memorial Day.
Good
Mo rning
WHAT IS IT?
Economy, economy!
In Congress they debate it
And some there be who woo the
thing
And some there be who hate it.
It’s talked about in corner stores
And at the breakfast table,
But is there really such a thing
Or is it just a fable?
I mean nobody seems to know
Just how you go about it;
One says economy is this
Another dares to doubt it.
"Appropriations must be cut,”
Says one. And says another:
"It’s not economy to wreck
Efficiency, my brother.”
Economy, economy!
Oh, will some one explain it;
Just tell us what the heck it is
And how we can attain it?
It can’t be this and also that,
Somebody is mistaken.
Come, come! Our faith in statesmen’s
minds )
Is being badly shaken.
ON THE KING'S HIGHWAY
These are the gifts I ask
Of Thee, Spirit serene:
Strength for the daily task,
Courage to face the road,
Good cheer to help me bear the trav
elers’ load
And, for the hours of rest that come
between
An inward joy in all things heard and
seen. —Henry van Dyke.
Robinson: Who was that man sou
just raised your hat to?
Green—That? Oh, that was iny
barber. He sold me a bottle of hair
grower a month ago, a fraud, he is
"You used to call me Sweetheart
before we were married. Now you
don’t call me anything.”
"That just shows my self-control.”
Professor X—Who’s there?
Burglar—Lie still and keep quiet.
I’m looking for money.
Professor X—Wait and I’ll get up
and help you.
Jealous Damsel (to rival who is
walking with a very thin boy friend):
Hello, maisie, I see you are planning
to have a new boy.
Maisie—What do you mean, plan
ning to?
Well, you’ve got the frame-work.
Maud—Did Norman tell you he
proposed to me before you accepted
him?
Mabel—Oh, I can’t remember half
the silly things he said to me.
"Where’s father?”
"Upstairs.”
"Where’s mother?”
"Downstairs.”
"I thought is seemed quiet!”
"They tell me you’re working ’ard
day and night, Sadie.”
"Yes, I’en under bonds to keep the
peace from pulling the whiskers out
of that old bum of mine, and they
said that if I come for him again or
laid me hands on the old man, they’d
fine me forty shillings.”
"Oh! You’re working ’ard to keep
out of mischief.”
"Naw. I’m working hard to get
money to pay the fine.”
OH, THOSE YOUNGSTERS!
Town Child—Auntie, why are the
hens making such a noise?
Country Aunt—They want their
food, dear.
Town Child—If they are hungry,
why don’t they lay themselves some
eggs?—Lustige Joiner Xeitung.
Sign on garage: Cars washed $1.00.
Austins dunked—twenty-five cents.
ROWAN MARRIAGE
MARKET SUFFERS
SEVERE SETBACK
1931 Marriages 21 Shy of
1930 Record While Di
vorces Show Increase Of
9 In Number.
MARRIAGE SLUMP
ALSO FELT OVER
THE ENTIRE STATE
Total Of 1,53 5 Divorces
Granted In North Caro
lina During The Year
1931.
The Rowan county marriage mar
ket suffered a decline in 1931, ac
cording to a report issued by the bu
reau of the census, Washington, D.
C.
On the other hand, divorces increas
ed.
Statistics reveal that there were only
208 marriages performed in Rowan
county in 1931 while in 1930 there
were 229, representing a decrease of
21.
Thirty divorces were granted in
Rowan in 1931 as compared
with 21 in 1930, showing an increase
of 9.
One marriage was annulled in 1930;
('Please turn to back page)
Double Endorsement
Norman Thomas, presidential
nominee of the Socialist party, is in
fact a two-time candidate. The
League of Independent Political Ac
tion, in convention at Cleveland,—
also named him their candidate as
“infinitely preferable to those of
other parties ”
TWO FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS
Stamey Holdbrooks, Cabarrus coun
ty, was instantly killed Monday after
noon when a car occupied by five per
sons crashed into his filling station.
The five are held on charge of man
slaughter. Elijah Oakley, 20, died at1
Burlington, Sunday, from injuries tak
en when he fell from the running
board of a moving car.
— i ■ i .
20 DRQWN IN W. VIRGINIA
A death toll of over 20 is estimated
in 12 mining villages in West Vir
ginia, as result of floods along two
creeks early Monday. One hundred
and fifty houses were swept away. ■
81 Per Cent Of
County’s 1931-32
Taxes Collected
Collection of county taxes for the
year 1931-32, now delinquent, has
passed the 81 per cent mark on a to
tal levy of $479,001.14, according to
a statement of J. E. Haynes, county
auditor.
Collections to the present amount
to $386,334.60, leaving an uncollect
ed balance of $192,666.54, or 19 per
cent.
Although the 1932-33 tax rate for
the county has not yet been establish
ed, officials of the county tax collec
tor’s office are receiving payments on
next year’s taxes, based on last year’s
rate, of 57 cents per hundred dollar
valuation, allowing a discount of two
and one half per cent during July for
advance payments. Approximately 25
to 30 thousand dollars have been re
ceived on next year’s taxes and offi
cials expect about 50 thousand more
to be paid this month.
Quite a few are taking advantage
of the discount allowed for the ad
vance payment of next year’s taxes.
During July a discount of two and
one half per cent is allowed. This dis
count will be reduced to 2 per cent in
August and will drop at the rate of
one half per cent each month until
December when no discount will be
allowed.
When the rate is set those who have
taken advantage of the discounts be
ing given will receive a rebate from
the tax office, provided the rate for
next year is lower than that of the
past.
Collection of taxes is being rapidly
pushed under the direction of Sheriff
Cal L. Miller. Every effort is being
made to get as much as possible of
the delinquent taxes collected before
August 1. On that date the sheriff
will make his rounds of the county
and will levy against personal prop
erty for unpaid 1931-32 county taxes.
With a total of 81 per cent of the
1931-32 taxes collected, Rowan .ranks
third highest among the counties of
the state in financial standing.
MOTOR EXPRESS TO
FIGHT RAILROADS
The first step of a prospective legal
battle to keep the railroads out of the
trucking field was taken before the
corporation commission in the form
of exceptions to the order issued last
week authorizing the Seaboard Air
Line to operate highway freight ser
vice between Hamlet and Monroe.
The exceptions were filed by Ed
win Bridges of Charlotte, attorney
for the Miller Motor Express company,
holder of a trucking franchise over
the route.
Should the commission over-rule the
exceptions, the next step for the truck
line would be to appeal to the superior
court.
The order gives the Seaboard au
thority to transport the truck on
Route 60, between Hamlet and Mon
roe commodities delivered to its ware
houses.
STRIKERS REJECT
MILL WAGE OFFER
A committe of strikers have an
nounced they had voted to reject the
offer of hosiery mill owners to restore
the wage scale effective until about
10 days ago, reduction of which re
sulted in a general shutdown of in
dustry in High Point, and to demand
the scale in effect April 1.
The committee’s action must be
ratified by the employes of the mills
concerned. A final decision will be
made at a general meeting called for
7 o’clock tonight.
.. — — i
News Briefs
BALTIMORE PIERS BURNED
Damage of $1,000,000 was done in
Baltimore in a fire which destroyed
the Pennsylvania railroad piers and 1$
box cars.
WOMEN AUTOISTS DIE IN FIRE
Two. women burned to death and a
companion was badly injured in the
destruction of their car near Senaca,
S. C., after it collided with a truck
and burst into flames.
YORK LEADS IN ESCAPE
Clark York, serving 30 years for
the murder of Jim >Burrus, Mt. Airy,
led nine men who stole a state high
way truck at Mocksville, in prizing
a way from a prison camp, after they
had cut a hole through a plank floor.
CHILD DIES IN CRASH
June Dorton, eight, was instantly
killed in Salisbury, Sunday, in the col
lision of a car driven by her mother
with one Willis Thomas, Spencer ne
gro.
8 5 PASS MEDICAL TEST
Eighty-three men and two women
passed the recent state medical board
examination for license to practice
medicine in North Carolina. Frederick
M. Dula, Lenoir, made the highest
grade.
URGES VOTES FOR DRYS
Without indorsing any presidential
candidate, the national prohibition
board of strategy, at Washington,
urged member organizations to sup
port "those candidates who believe
that prohibition ought to be the law.
BANDITS LOSE BATTLE
One bandit was killed and two cap
tured at Greenville, Ga., when they
fought it out with a posse who had
cornered them after a bank robbery
had netted $1,700, most of which was
recovered.
CHADWICK IS INDICTED
David N. Chadwick, Jr., former
city commissioner of Wilmington, his
brother Julius, and Richard Gillman,
were indicted on 43 counts in federal
court at Jacksonville, Fla., in connec
tion with a $131,000 forgery.
MAJOR CROPS DECLINE
A strong decline in volume of ma
jor crops for 1932 is indicated in the
federal report estimating a drop of
157,000,000 bushels in wheat, 29 per
cent in tobacco and 9.5 per cent in
cotton acreage. Corn alone shows on
estimated increase, 438,000,000 bush
els.
$100,000 GREENSBORO FIRE
A Tuesday night fire in Greensboro
caused loss of $100,000 in six mer
cantile shops and a number of offices
Origin of the flames is not known.
NEW RULfiR FOR ELKS
Election as grand exalted ruler of
the Elk was at Birmingham, Tues
day, of Floyd E. Thompson, Illinois
Supreme court justice.
MANY DIE IN GERMAN RIOTS
Battles between German fascists and
communists in Berlin, Altona and oth
er German cities during the week-end
resulted in death for more than 1 $ and
injuries to hundreds.
N. C. FIRST IN SCHOOL BUS
North Carolina, with 200,000 chil
dren transported daily, leads the na
tion in public school transportation,
reports State School Facts. The cost
is 7 cents per pupil per day.
TOBACCONISTS NAME MORTON
The Eastern Carolina Tobacco
Warehouse association named W. Z.
Morton, Greenville, president, select
ed a full slate of officers and laid
plans for the auction season.
ORDER REDUCTION
TO MAKE POSSIBLE
LOWER TAX RATE
County Expenses Also
further Curtailed; To
Spend Only What Is Ab
solutely Necessary.
ROWAN’S TAX
RATE NOW 4TH
LOWEST IN N. C.
Hope to Reduce Tax Rate
To 55 Cents Despite
Shrinkage In Property
Values.
In the hope of further reducing the
tax rate in Rowan county, the board
of county commissioners Wednesday
ordered cuts ranging from 10 to 20
per cent in the salaries of county of
ficials.
Orders were also issued to further
curtail all expenses of the county. On
ly expenses that were considered ab
solutely necesary will be permitted.
Despise a Uws **so jjjite !■>;
[of approximately $'2,000,000 in the
shrinkage of property values, the
county commissioners are hopeful of
effecting another tax reduction. The
commissioners have met a number of
times this month and have been study
ing the tax problem from every angle
looking toward a reduction in taxes or
keeping the tax rate at its present fig
ure.
The tax rate at the present time is
57 cents on the $100.00' valuation.
This is the fourth lowest tax rate in
the state. The commissioners hope to
reduce the rate to at least 55 cents, if
possible.
The presen tax rate of 57 cents is
made up as follows:
General fund -:.15
County debt service --175
State school levy .157
School debt service - .065
School capital outlay - .01
School supplements .013
Total_ 57 cts.
It will be recalled that the tax rate
has undergone several large reductions
in recent years. Last year the rate was
reduced 28 cents. Other reductions
ranging from 10 to 15 per cent have
been made since 1924.
The board is being aided in its de
liberations by Garland Martin, certi
fied public accountant.
The matter of the budget and tax
rate is still incomplete and the board
will convene again in the near future
to make a final decision.
Century Edition
Of Watchman To
Appear Next Week
On next Thursday, July 28th, The
Watchman will publish the Century
Edition commemorating the 100th an
niversary of the paper. This issue is
also the first anniversary under the
new management.
The Century Edition will carry
many pages of historical data of Sal
isbury, Rowan county, and also a
comprehensive sketch of the history
of The Watchman and interesting #
facts relating to its editors of the past
and its policies.
The publishers of The Watchman
will welcome historical contributions
to this issue; however, a special re
quest is made that such material be
turned in at the earliest possible mo
ment.
A special advertising section will
be carried and many of the advertisers
of Salisbury and Rowan county are
availing themselves to the opportunity
to have their copy appear in this issue.